Idaho Food Bank sees increasing need

This week marks one of the busiest times of the year for the Idaho Food Bank and on Wednesday, the food bank’s Pocatello branch estimated they already handed-out roughly more than 1,200 turkey box dinners to families all day Tuesday.

The food bank’s Pocatello branch director Rebecca Ristrem said the line started at seven o’clock in the morning and at one point stretched almost one mile down the street until they finally served the last person in line at five o’clock that night.

She said she is seeing a 30% increase in need this year, for numerous reasons.

But, she said thanks to the community’s donations, the food bank was able to provide a turkey box dinner to every single person in line.

“I didn’t have to look anybody in the eye and tell them that I didn’t have a turkey for them,” Ristrem said. “It was just amazing.”

She said along with individual donors, groups throughout the community also came forward with turkeys, including Leadership Pocatello which gave 100 turkeys, and Barrie’s Ski and Sport which donated 621 turkeys after its Cranksgiving event on Saturday.

Ristrem said with the seasonal jobs now over, a large portion of southeastern Idaho workers will be out of jobs this holiday season, so the need will continue to increase through the rest of this year.

She said the food bank is always in need of volunteers, so anyone who is interested is welcome to head down to the Idaho Food Bank and help out.